re: Oceania/ Indonesia

We booked our second day excursion back in November to take a boat to Castaway Island (where the film staring Tom Hanks was filmed), but we received notice that morning that the tour was canceled due to unfavorable atmospheric and maritime conditions.

Fortunately, we were able to book another tour with Captain Cook Cruises to Tivua Island. Boat embarked at 10am for a 90 minute boat ride that was a little choppy but the hospitality members and boat crew made it fun, playing instruments and singing traditional songs.

On the island they had FCFS cabanas on the winward side but we reserved a private cabana which were situated on the leeward side of the island. This was great because it was a very windy day. $1000 FD ($440 US) for a family of five which include an open bar of beer & wine, but they also had spirits for purchase, buffet lunch of salad, coleslaw, sweet potatoes, potato salad, stir fried rice noodles, fried rice, fresh fruit, fish, chicken, & lamb sausage.

Activities on the island included snorkeling, nature walk, glass bottom boat, and volleyball. They also had a dive master for anyone wanting to scuba.

Last call was at 3:30 and the boat departed for home around 4. The ride back was really fun with all us drunk tourists bonding with the staff and each other. My son lead beer-soaked renditions of Country Road & Tennessee Whisky.

The people of Fiji in the hospitality industry are super friendly and very polite. This was the best experience of the trip so far.